The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.89

v4.c18.89

By this détour and rapid march Aurangzīb forced Dārā to abandon his elaborately prepared position on the main road and, leaving behind much of his heavy artillery, to retreat towards Āgra. Near Sāmogarh, about ten miles east of the city, the two armies met. Dārā's army, though superior in numbers and containing many reliable Rājputs and Sayyids of Bārha, included masses of untrained men and foreign mercenaries whose loyalty could not be relied on. Unskilled in the conduct of a battle, he had few able leaders and in particular was unable to make the best use of his bravest men. His first error was to fail to attack Aurangzīb on his arrival at Sāmogarh with troops exhausted by the heat, and to allow them to rest for the night. Next morning when the battle began his guns opened before the enemy were in range, and his first attack on the left was launched on unscathed opponents who had reserved their fire and repulsed it. Changing front to the centre this force was rapidly met by Aurangzīb's reserves and cut to pieces, its leader, Rustam Khān,² being killed. On the right Khalīl-ullah made a half-hearted attack on Murād Bakhsh which was not pressed, but a reserve from the centre, largely composed of Rājputs, followed it up and penetrated the rebel forces, even attacking the elephant on which Murād Bakhsh was seated. He himself received three arrow wounds in the face and his driver was killed before him. In spite of his personal bravery he was forced back and the Rājputs attacked the fresh forces which Aurangzīb led against them in person. Their bravery and devotion to leaders won the admiration of Aurangzīb, who tried to restrain his bodyguard from striking down beaten foes.